Softball Superstar Jeff Hall
Humbled After Spending
Time with SK Care
Humbled After Spending
Time with SK Care
South Bend, IN 11/22/09
Jeff Hall has followed Street Kids Softball for over a year, reading
the stories, the videos and so forth. But its not the amazing season
the SKS team had that kept him coming back, but rather the work
they do within the community with Street Kids Care.
"I came into South Bend this weekend because I wanted to see
what is going on with this team and the things they are doing," the
hall of fame slugger said. "After spending Saturday night at their
amazing banquet and watching the video and talking with people
about Street Kids Care, I was so excited to be a part of it. But after I got here today at Memorial Hospital and held this little children who
are battling cancer and look at them smile up at me, it touched me. The things that TJ Jorgensen and the fellas here with SKS are doing is
truly a miracle. They are touching lives, changing the world... and I got to witness it first hand."
Hall was in town for the Street Kids/Suburban Softball awards banquet on Saturday, which was held at the Blue Chip Casino and Resort in
Michigan City. Hall was a guest speaker, but found himself so enthralled with the event that he got up and started handing out awards and
taking pictures with the award winners.
"I was so moved by the video and the overall atmosphere that I whispered over to TJ that I wanted to go help out," Hall said. "We had a
great time Saturday night, I made some new friends and even got to see Notre Dame Football, but nothing amounts to what I saw on Sunday
at the hospital. After meeting Dillion Weldy's parents at the banquet and meeting Tammy from Memorial at the banquet, I was so eager to be
here today and meet this incredible, courageous young man. And he made me laugh and we had some fun, too!"
Street Kids has been involved with Memorial Hospital's Hematology/Oncology program for about a year and half and have stepped in to
provide fun, some gifts and lots of smiles through various events including the Memorial Opener at the Belleville Complex and the Memorial
Bowl last January. But TJ Jorgensen of SK Care says its still not enough.
"We can't take away cancer... we can't make the pain go away," Jorgensen said. "But if we can provide some laughter, some hope, and let
them know that they have people out there that care about them and are pulling for them, maybe it can make it a little easier."
Some of the people that came out on Sunday were Rick and Heather Dare from Walkerton, who have four children - Dakota, Madison,
Blazer and Alexis. Rick has a rare disease called Neurofibromatosis, a genetically-inherited disease in which the nerve tissue grows tumors
that may be harmless or may cause serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissues. Rick was diagnosed with the disease as a
teenager, but has now passed the disease onto three of his four children, including Madison (pictured above with Jeff Hall) who is going
through chemotherapy for the tumors.
"We've had it tough, thats for sure," Rick told Jorgensen on Sunday. "Treatments have been rough on Madison, as she's been in and out of
the hospital for the side effects, but she is a fighter."
What do the doctors think? How is the outlook for the kids?
"At this time, they can't say anything," Rick answered. "We really have no idea, we just have to live with it, keep fighting everyday and hope
that we can beat it."
Madison and her siblings were very excited to receive some stuffed animals that Jeff Tedder from the Suburban/SKS team in Kalamazoo
donated. It seemed to brighten her up, if even for a little bit.
"This means a lot to my family," Rick Dare added. "For the things you guys do for kids and so forth, I am so grateful to have met you today."
The children all asked for autographs from all the players, which they were honored in obliging.
No one has been more affected by Street Kids Care than SKS player Mark Hershberger, who was honored on Saturday night at the
banquet with the coveted Humanitarian Award. The 6'5" self proclaimed hillbilly couldn't hind his emotions.
"I can't believe I'm up here," the big guy said, fighting back tears as the room gave him a standing ovation. "This is for people like Dillion and
anyone else out there fighting through tough times. I never thought a year ago I would be up here receiving an award like this. But I fell in love
with Dillion Weldy and it changed my life."
Hershberger was also at Memorial on Sunday, joining others such as Jay Jeffery, Joe Horvath, Dan Garey, Jeff Tedder and his girlfriend
Bekka, Lisa Varga - the sister of SKS player Shane Varga and Mike Miller. Dillion ran to Hershberger the moment he walked in the door.
"Winning awards, winning tournaments, stuff like that is always nice," Hershberger said. "But nothing will ever top the feeling Dillion and the
other kids here have given me in my life. Tammy said last night at the banquet that we are changing lives here, but its not just their lives that
are being changed. Its mine, too."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jeff Hall has followed Street Kids Softball for over a year, reading
the stories, the videos and so forth. But its not the amazing season
the SKS team had that kept him coming back, but rather the work
they do within the community with Street Kids Care.
"I came into South Bend this weekend because I wanted to see
what is going on with this team and the things they are doing," the
hall of fame slugger said. "After spending Saturday night at their
amazing banquet and watching the video and talking with people
about Street Kids Care, I was so excited to be a part of it. But after I got here today at Memorial Hospital and held this little children who
are battling cancer and look at them smile up at me, it touched me. The things that TJ Jorgensen and the fellas here with SKS are doing is
truly a miracle. They are touching lives, changing the world... and I got to witness it first hand."
Hall was in town for the Street Kids/Suburban Softball awards banquet on Saturday, which was held at the Blue Chip Casino and Resort in
Michigan City. Hall was a guest speaker, but found himself so enthralled with the event that he got up and started handing out awards and
taking pictures with the award winners.
"I was so moved by the video and the overall atmosphere that I whispered over to TJ that I wanted to go help out," Hall said. "We had a
great time Saturday night, I made some new friends and even got to see Notre Dame Football, but nothing amounts to what I saw on Sunday
at the hospital. After meeting Dillion Weldy's parents at the banquet and meeting Tammy from Memorial at the banquet, I was so eager to be
here today and meet this incredible, courageous young man. And he made me laugh and we had some fun, too!"
Street Kids has been involved with Memorial Hospital's Hematology/Oncology program for about a year and half and have stepped in to
provide fun, some gifts and lots of smiles through various events including the Memorial Opener at the Belleville Complex and the Memorial
Bowl last January. But TJ Jorgensen of SK Care says its still not enough.
"We can't take away cancer... we can't make the pain go away," Jorgensen said. "But if we can provide some laughter, some hope, and let
them know that they have people out there that care about them and are pulling for them, maybe it can make it a little easier."
Some of the people that came out on Sunday were Rick and Heather Dare from Walkerton, who have four children - Dakota, Madison,
Blazer and Alexis. Rick has a rare disease called Neurofibromatosis, a genetically-inherited disease in which the nerve tissue grows tumors
that may be harmless or may cause serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissues. Rick was diagnosed with the disease as a
teenager, but has now passed the disease onto three of his four children, including Madison (pictured above with Jeff Hall) who is going
through chemotherapy for the tumors.
"We've had it tough, thats for sure," Rick told Jorgensen on Sunday. "Treatments have been rough on Madison, as she's been in and out of
the hospital for the side effects, but she is a fighter."
What do the doctors think? How is the outlook for the kids?
"At this time, they can't say anything," Rick answered. "We really have no idea, we just have to live with it, keep fighting everyday and hope
that we can beat it."
Madison and her siblings were very excited to receive some stuffed animals that Jeff Tedder from the Suburban/SKS team in Kalamazoo
donated. It seemed to brighten her up, if even for a little bit.
"This means a lot to my family," Rick Dare added. "For the things you guys do for kids and so forth, I am so grateful to have met you today."
The children all asked for autographs from all the players, which they were honored in obliging.
No one has been more affected by Street Kids Care than SKS player Mark Hershberger, who was honored on Saturday night at the
banquet with the coveted Humanitarian Award. The 6'5" self proclaimed hillbilly couldn't hind his emotions.
"I can't believe I'm up here," the big guy said, fighting back tears as the room gave him a standing ovation. "This is for people like Dillion and
anyone else out there fighting through tough times. I never thought a year ago I would be up here receiving an award like this. But I fell in love
with Dillion Weldy and it changed my life."
Hershberger was also at Memorial on Sunday, joining others such as Jay Jeffery, Joe Horvath, Dan Garey, Jeff Tedder and his girlfriend
Bekka, Lisa Varga - the sister of SKS player Shane Varga and Mike Miller. Dillion ran to Hershberger the moment he walked in the door.
"Winning awards, winning tournaments, stuff like that is always nice," Hershberger said. "But nothing will ever top the feeling Dillion and the
other kids here have given me in my life. Tammy said last night at the banquet that we are changing lives here, but its not just their lives that
are being changed. Its mine, too."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
